MR STANLEY PROVED TO BE A WELSHMAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume VII, Issue 458, 21 December 1872, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR STANLEY PROVED TO BE A WELSHMAN.

The controversy as to the nationality fof Mr Stanley has become so interesting that the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, “ felt a desire to Know the truth.” It says :—To settle the question we determined to go at once to the fountain head—the lady who claims to be his mother. Having entered the Cross Foxes Inn, at Cflascoed, near St Asaph, we asked the landlady, whose present name is Mrs Jones, if she was the mother of Stanley. She replied that she was, and that it would be impossible for her to deny it, even if she wished. She then showed us four photographic portraits of her son, taken at different times. The first was taken soon after he went to America, about fifteen years ago. It had been sent by him to his cousin, who resides at the town of Denbigh, and on the back of it is an inscription in Stanley’s own handwriting. The second represents him as an officer in the American navy, and was taken during the American War. The third was taken in Turkey, on his return from Abyssinia, and it has Arabic characters on the back. The last of these three photographs are two copies in different sizes. This portrait was taken in Africa, and has' also an Arabic inscription on the back. His African servant is also with him in this portrait. He has written something on the back of all these portraits. These exactly correspond with the portrait given of Mr H. M. Stanley of the New York Herald in the Illustrated London News for the week before last ; and there can be no question but that they represent the same man. We were then shown two books this gentleman, be he Stanley or John Howlands, had given his mother. One was a “ History of the Abyssinian War,” and had his name (Stanley) stamped in it. The next was a scrap-book, and this contained his correspondence in the Missouri Democrat on (Jen. Hancock’s Indian expedition. The letters are cut out and• pasted in a book, and most of them are signed “Stanley.” Here and there 4 are interesting notes in his own handwriting. Mrs Jones gave us many interesting particulars, a few of which we shall give. Her ’son’s real name is John Rowlands. He is now thirty-two years of age. He went out to New Orleans about fifteen years ago. He was employed by a man of the name of Stanley, and it was after him that he adopted that name. We next find him acting as special correspondent to the Missouri Democrat. After this he joined the staff of the New York Herald. He has now been three times in Africa. He first went out as correspondent during the Abyssinian War. Ho then came to London, and returned again to Africa. He came again to England, and visited his mother at Glascoed. He next went to the Continent, and thence, of course, to Africa, in search of Livingstone. His family Heard nothing more of Mr Stanley (otherwise Mr Rojylands) till the news came of his success and return. His brother and cousin went to meet him at Dover. Mrs Jones says she is going up to London to see Mr Stanley soon. AMr A. Moon, and the rector of Stanley’s native parish, also write to the papers that he is a Welshman.